LAPD announces $50,000 reward in investigation of street takeover crash that killed woman
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles police announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver who fatally struck a woman in her 20s during a street takeover in South L.A.'s Hyde Park neighborhood.
The woman, identified by relatives as Elyzza Guajaca, was struck shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday by a black Chevrolet Camaro while standing with a group of people at the northeast corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Florence Avenue, according to the LAPD. She was transported to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.
The driver involved in the deadly collision fled the scene and remained at large Wednesday, authorities said.
Los Angeles Police Department detectives said six or seven additional victims, who have not been identified, were seen on videos obtained over the past several days. Investigators are seeking the public's help in identifying them, police said.
LAPD officials on Wednesday released videos that they found or were sent to them, showing the moments after the street takeover. In the footage, people can be seen helping others who appeared to be injured. At least three appeared to be critically injured.
Guajaca's brother, Louie, set up a GoFundMe page online to help raise money for her funeral expenses.
"My sister was an aunty to my beautiful girls who loved her so much," Louie Guajaca said in the appeal. "She was a beautiful sister who loved big. She was a daughter who always wanted to be with (family) around and have family time. She was the rock to our family. She was just a good, goofy, funny, outgoing person. She loved all her close friends and family."
The page had raised more than $23,000 as of Wednesday.
Activist and author Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, on Tuesday said he witnessed part of the deadly street takeover on Sunday night and called on Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council to declare a state of emergency on such takeovers, similar to the declaration recently issued by the mayor on homelessness.
"Street takeovers present -- as witnessed by the death at Florence and Crenshaw and numerous injuries to life and damage to property at other takeover sites in the city -- a grave problem for city officials," Hutchinson said in a statement. "It has sparked community outrage and demand for stepped up action. A state of emergency will further empower law enforcement and citizens to concentrate time, energy and resources on this deadly problem."
Street takeovers, in general, have become popular over the past few years and the LAPD has suggested stricter penalties for anyone who participates in them.
During a press conference Wednesday, Detective Ryan Moreno said about 200 people were in the intersection during Sunday's street takeover.
When asked how it's possible so many people witnessed the deadly incident, yet the driver hasn't been located and they're still looking for victims, Moreno blamed the culture of silence around street takeovers as the main challenge.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the LAPD's South Traffic Division at (323) 421-2500. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at lacrimestoppers.org.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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